Tuesday, September 17, 2013

News::Grand Theft Auto V's three main voice actors pictured

Geoff Keighley tweeted a link to this picture of Grand Theft Auto V's voice actors, Steven Ogg (Trevor), Shawn Fonteno (Franklin), and Ned Luke (Michael). Ogg looks so much like Trevor! Or, I suppose, Trevor looks so much like Ogg. Also a bit like we can expect Destructoid's Conrad Zimmerman to look in ten years, minus the height.


Seeing the faces of familiar voices is always weird, whether you're finding out what your favorite singer looks like or you're peeping the fleshy meatbag behind the voice of a character in a videogame. Now more than ever it feels particularly weird because of how often voice actors' visage is used in the character model. It's uncanny.


Are you enjoying Grand Theft Auto V as much as Jim did in his review? I haven't played it yet, but I did make a GTAV-inspired pastrami-topped triple chili cheese dog burrito, and that's something. Heart failure, mostly.


Grand Theft Auto V's three main voice actors pictured screenshot


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via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/grand-theft-auto-v-s-three-main-voice-actors-pictured-262021.phtml

News::So This Dickwolves Thing Won't Go Away

News::VGMMDI | Aarklash: Legacy Review

VGMMDI reviews cyanide studios Aarklash: Legacy



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1356781/vgmmdi-aarklash-legacy-review

News::Maxis tease the future of SimCity

Maxis has teased that the "future" of SimCity will be revealed in two days time.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1356782/maxis-tease-the-future-of-simcity

News::GTA V PC petition reaches 400,000 signatures, Wii U petition flatlines

As Grand Theft Auto V finally goes on sale today, the petition to bring Rockstar Games eagerly awaited open-world crime game to PC has reached a little over 400,000 signatures, while the petition to bring it to Wii U has dried out.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1356261/gta-v-pc-petition-reaches-400-000-signatures-wii-u-petition-flatlines

News::Survival sim The Long Dark sounds too good to be true


Is "the long dark" a euphemism for the color grey? Because this new indie game developed by industry vets reads a lot like the surprisingly excellent Liam Neeson film The Grey. Post plane crash, the protagonist must survive the coolly indifferent Pacific Northwest and not be eaten by wolves. That's just the appetizer. The plane went down in a mystical event that rendered all of our technology useless, so The Long Dark becomes not about survival until rescue, but plain survival.



Simulations require a greater degree of investment and determination on the part of a player than, say, a more scripted linear experience. We're asking you to think. The Long Dark will not spoon-feed you content. You will have to go out into the world and to a large degree, figure it out. There is no manual. But, our goal is to create a compelling environment to be in so that investing time and energy into the game will return the reward of player mastery and a sense of accomplishment.



This is a lot of high-concept being bandied about in the Kickstarter video, but it's my kind of high-concept. Add in the fact that the team is comprised of talent that has worked on some of the industry's biggest games (God of War, Mass Effect, Far Cry 3, League of Legends, etc), I'm willing to expect the team to deliver. We certainly won't be left in the dark. A recent update delves deeper into the survival sim systems.


The Kickstarter notes, "combat is rare, and highly lethal," calling The Long Dark "a game of careful exploration." It seems a bit like The Last of Us with less cinematic flair and no monsters; or, an expanded version of The Grey. I've long asked for cool survival games and recent years have been surprisingly good about delivering -- I still need to play Sir, You Are Being Hunted. I'm excited about this project. Are you?


Survival sim The Long Dark sounds too good to be true screenshot






via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/survival-sim-the-long-dark-sounds-too-good-to-be-true-262017.phtml

News::JIG - Earth Taken Review

JIG - When they came, the Earth changed. Their weapons were deadly, but their ecosystem modifiers were worse. Clear skies turned into clouds of poison. Thousands of species of animals went extinct, and the human race is close. You, though, are a survivor. Always have been. But the surface world is deadly, and you need to find shelter soon. Earth Taken is an action platformer by SeethingSwarm that casts you as the desperate measures that the desperate needs of an alien menace require.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1356725/jig-earth-taken-review

News::FIFA 14 Prediction: The Invincible XI

WC - With only one last harrowing week of patience required before FIFA 14 hits shelves on September 24th, weve reached the stage of the year when the current game is mercilessly picked to pieces and ridiculed for its inadequacy in the shadow of its refined successor.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1356629/fifa-14-prediction-the-invincible-xi

News::Here's one good and one sad GTA V related story

First the good news by way of Breakfast Television: Two teen brothers helped attempt to save the life of an elderly man trapped in his home due to a fire. 17-year-old Colten and 16-year-old Luke were on their way back home after purchasing Grand Theft Auto V at a midnight release when the heard a fire alarm going off inside a home.


They went to investigate the source when they heard the homeowner crying for help. One of the brothers immediately called 911, while the other broke down the front door to try and save the man's life. The smoke was too thick for him to enter, but thankfully firefighters arrived quickly on the scene.


This is the part where you think see GTA isn't a bad influence on society until you read this:


Telegraph reports that a 23-year-old was attacked in London for his copy of Grand Theft Auto V. He too was on his way home from a midnight release when the victim was hit with a brick, stabbed, and then robbed of several items including GTA V. He's currently in stable condition in a north London hospital.


Videogames, man.


Here's one good and one sad GTA V related story screenshot






via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/here-s-one-good-and-one-sad-gta-v-related-story-262001.phtml

News::Pros and Cons of Sandbox MMOs

Lots of gamers argue that sandbox games are better than other mmo genres. However, there are both pros and cons of sandbox mmos as seen in this article from MMO-Play.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1356514/pros-and-cons-of-sandbox-mmos

News::Rayman Legends Review Platforming Bliss | Techn Buffalo

TB - "Rayman Origins was one of my favorite games of the year when it launched back in 2011. Its undeniable charm and completely off the wall qualities, coupled with its pure brilliance as a solid platformer, earned it way more time in my Xbox 360 than any other game that launched."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1356670/rayman-legends-review-platforming-bliss-techn-buffalo

News::EpicDome: Amnesia A Machine for Pigs Review (PC, 2013)

The Illusive Man says:"Pigs to the Slaughter I must say after playing Outlast, with its refusal to ease up on the tension, Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs provides a strikingly different alternative to generating fear. This is the follow up to 2010s Amnesia: The Dark Descent. Developers Frictional Games and The Chinese Room are careful not to label this a sequel, as while its done in the spirit of Dark Descent, it does not follow the same character or story. The dreadful feeling you get while exploring is still prevalent, but gone are some of the features that made Dark Descent unique; namely the sanity meter. Also missing is the need to manage resources like tinderboxes and lamp oil. And in their place is an everlasting lamp, and some deadly puzzles which are only deadly in the sense that they kill any enjoyment from a gameplay perspective. However, like a well-oiled machine, the components of the story work together, and present a generally foreboding psychological experi...



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1356021/epicdome-amnesia-a-machine-for-pigs-review-pc-2013

News::The Bureau: XCOM Declassified - PC Review [Player Attack]

Eeoor writes: Here it was. A veritable bonafide really truly XCOM shooter. As the initial shock subsided I came to a few very quick conclusions that would be challenged - or reinforced - over the next 15 or so hours of playtime. First, and easiest - it looked great, in a very Unreal Engine kind of way. Next? The story and voice acting were abysmal. Third: the gameplay still felt like XCOM and was definitely solid. Finally? The Bureau was not finished when it was released. Time just ran out.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1355962/the-bureau-xcom-declassified-pc-review-player-attack

News::Inti Creates contributing art to both new Shantae games

We all owe WayForward an apology. We haven't been paying the Kickstarter for Shantae: Half-Genie Hero much attention because Mighty No. 9 gobbled up everyone's focus. I knew weeks in advance that WayForward was planning to launch some kind of Kickstarter after PAX ended, but no one could have predicted Inafune's reveal. The timing was unfortunate, and I hope it doesn't mean the campaign won't hit those delicious-looking stretch goals.


Thankfully, WayForward had an ace up its sleeve! Announced in today's update, Mighty No. 9 and Mega Man Zero developer Inti Creates is collaborating with WayForward on not only Half-Genie Hero but also Shantae and the Pirate's Curse for 3DS. It seems that Inti Creates is in charge of key artwork, concepts, and character illustrations, which would explain the new incidental art we saw in our hands-on with Pirate's Curse.


Inti Creates artist Makoto "KOU" Yabe has redone all the characters for Pirate's Curse and is helping with backgrounds for Half-Genie Hero, as you can see in the gallery below. KOU is just another amazing talent from the Half-Genie Hero art crew which includes background designer Gigi. D.G., best known for her webcomic Cucumber Quest , and animator Mariel Cartwright, fresh from her work on Skullgirls.


If you haven't donated yet, maybe you probably should. You still have 16 days!


MEGA-SIZE Team Reveal: Mega Man developer Inti Creates! WHAAAAAT?! [Kickstarter]


Inti Creates contributing art to both new Shantae games screenshot


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via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/inti-creates-contributing-art-to-both-new-shantae-games-262006.phtml

News::Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Pixel Judge review

PJ: "Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is a downloadable single player co-op game from visionary Swedish film director - Josef Fares. The game received some favourable reviews when it was released about a month ago on Xbox live. Since then, PC gamers have been waiting patiently for Brothers to arrive, so that they can experience the journey for themselves. So without further ado let us see if the game lives up to expectations."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1356664/brothers-a-tale-of-two-sons-pixel-judge-review

News::Foul Play Review | GameRevolution

GR - "Foul Play has that rare quality of being able to take clear inspirations from other games, have them all make sense together, and then have the player understand them all within a mere ten minutes of play. That's what I experienced several weeks ago at PAX Prime and the feeling hasn't subsided since then; in fact, the last few days have only served as a bold reminder. Where it lacks in complexity, it compensates with humorous charm, approachable gameplay, and a knack for panache. Despite its name, there's little foul at play here."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1356681/foul-play-review-gamerevolution

News::Let's Build in Minecraft- Pilot Wings

Geoff and Gavin are back with this week's Let's Build where they test the new build height on Minecraft.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1356633/lets-build-in-minecraft-pilot-wings

News::Rise of the Triad gets five new multiplayer maps for free


The first update for Rise of the Triad has arrived, and it brings hundreds of fixes, tweaks, optimizations, and features demanded by fans. The team at Interceptor spent the month after release looking at all the feedback in order to bring about this major patch, showing that they really give a damn about creating a fun game.


Along with the fixes come five brand new multiplayer maps. Bonus: It's all for free. Free maps? UNHEARD OF!


Rise of the Triad gets five new multiplayer maps for free screenshot






via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/rise-of-the-triad-gets-five-new-multiplayer-maps-for-free-261999.phtml

News::Top 5 characters in line for the 5th Ultra Street Fighter IV mystery fighter spot

Capcom took the world by storm when they announced Ultra Street Fighter IV, the next update to the more than popular SFIV. The company revealed that this new update will add 5 new characters including Rolento, Elena, Hugo, Poison and a 5th mystery character yet to be revealed. Hadoken.net presents their top 5 contenders for the mystery character spot in Ultra Street Fighter IV.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1356645/top-5-characters-in-line-for-the-5th-ultra-street-fighter-iv-mystery-fighter-spot

News::Rayman Legends Review: From Leg Ends to Legends | Spiderduck Network

The appropriately titled Rayman Legends continues the limbless lads saga, right after going back to its side-scrolling roots, which reflects how far back Raymans history stretches.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1356661/rayman-legends-review-from-leg-ends-to-legends-spiderduck-network

News::Grand Theft Auto V PC Listed On Major Online Gaming Stores

DSOGaming writes: "Okay okay, we all know that GTA V will - eventually - hit our favourite platform. Yes, Rockstar has not announced anything yet, but we've already got hints from both the configuration file of GTA V's X360 version and Nvidia (who claimed that the game will hit PC this Fall but then retracted that statement). So, today we present you some major online gaming stores that already have the PC version available for pre-order."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1356646/grand-theft-auto-v-pc-listed-on-major-online-gaming-stores

News::Indie Horror Round-up in September I Expansive

Theres been a vast amount of horror games bursting on the scene recently and this month is no exception. Here is a round-up of the most creepy, frightening, terrifying and just downright bizarre games brought to you by Septembers Indie Round-Up: Horror Edition.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1356607/indie-horror-round-up-in-september-i-expansive

News::Remember Shadow Man? It's now on GOG.com


This trailer for Shadow Man brings me back. That voice over! The third-person action-adventure game based on the comic series of the same name has been added to GOG.com. It's $5.99, and if you purchase before September 24, you'll also get a free Shadowman (2012) #1 digital comic.


I never actually played the game myself, but I had a childhood friend whose family of gamers helped expose me to the likes of Silent Hill, Resident Evil, and yes, Shadow Man. Interesting group of people. Truth be told, I wasn't even aware there was a PC version until now.


I'm scared thinking about how well this will -- or won't, I should say -- hold up nowadays when so many late '90s games aren't as good as we remember. Does it?


Remember Shadow Man? It's now on GOG.com screenshot






via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/remember-shadow-man-it-s-now-on-gog-com-261998.phtml

News::PCGamer- Dark Review

PCG:Before Dark even begins, it spends a couple of hours staring into the mirror and hating its wannabe-vampire self for still having a reflection. Its That Guy at the goth club, desperate to fit in, its clothes and makeup a copied uniform rather than a personal statement. Just for starters, its protagonist is called Eric Bane. Please let that sink in.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1356635/pcgamer-dark-review

News::Were serious, its not a Sonic clone: a Preview of Freedom Planet.

When Kickstarter user GalaxyTrail / Strife posted the funding campaign for his game, entitled Freedom Planet, he seemed to be already aware that some might call it a Sonic the Hedgehog clone, because he put it in the Q&A section of the Kickstarter. And while I can see some concern in that field, what Ive played of Freedom Planet, (which isnt the full version, by the way), I can safely say that it is a fun, fast-paced platformer thats only similarity to the 90s classic is its style of gameplay.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1356572/were-serious-its-not-a-sonic-clone-a-preview-of-freedom-planet

News::National healing: Europa Universalis IV patch coming next week

Europa Universalis IV came out in a pretty solid state, but that doesnt mean theres no room for tweaks, improvements and additional features. The first major patch for the game, taking it to version 1.2, will be released next week according to producer Johan Andersson.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1356570/national-healing-europa-universalis-iv-patch-coming-next-week

News::Gamer Chatter Podcast - Episode 34: Flashback

Edward and Amy are rejoined with their long lost Co-host Tim!!! The team is sorry for the A-team music that will officially be stuck in your head after the show. Amy goes over news about Steam starting its family share program, AC Liberation and PlayStation Vita news. Gamer Chatter has an Extra-Life team and to join please click here. The gang reads the community question answers and that question was What video game character showdown would you pay money to see? Some interesting answers but not a lot of them. Also the gang goes over what they have been playing, a weekly update from Lardteamaker and his trophy challenge, and Edward has a shout out for his Final Fantasy 14 Free Company friends. Please enjoy the show!



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1356540/gamer-chatter-podcast-episode-34-flashback

News::Bladecraft A quick look at the new action game from China

MMOCulture: From time to time, I try out new online games from Asia, be they big-named titles or small. I have been playing this new action game titled Bladecraft for the past 2 days casually, developed by a new studio call Ejoy. There are currently 3 classes, each with 2 more advancements at level 20.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1355995/bladecraft-a-quick-look-at-the-new-action-game-from-china

News::Age of Storm Brand new character trailers for 3rd person MOBA title

Having entered Open Beta in South Korea last month after several big-money marketing campaigns, publisher Neowiz is continuing its efforts to push Age of Storm this week by introducing 2 new trailers for existing characters.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1355994/age-of-storm-brand-new-character-trailers-for-3rd-person-moba-title

News::Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs vs. Outlast: The Comparison We Had To Make

Kotaku - When Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs and Outlast launched a week apart from each other, I was not going to play them. Im a wimp when it comes to getting scared, so the idea of subjecting myself to hours of cowering in the dark while terrifying creatures hunted me down? Please, not going to happen.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1356622/amnesia-a-machine-for-pigs-vs-outlast-the-comparison-we-had-to-make

News::This gen: Is Skyrim the high point?

As the next generation looms, Press2Reset looks at the highs and lows of the past few years. Richard Hayden asks whether Skyrim is the best this generation has to offer.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1356614/this-gen-is-skyrim-the-high-point

News::MechWarrior Online Open Beta Impressions | BioGamer Girl

BioGamer Girl states, "MechWarrior Online is the popular new online shooter title from developer Piranha Games and Infinite Games Publishing. The new title places players in control of massive battle mechs that fight over control of important natural resources and a place in the world's government."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1356595/mechwarrior-online-open-beta-impressions-biogamer-girl

News::The Best Games For Realizing Your Free-Falling Fantasies

Game Informer: "Some people play every first-person shooter without exception. Others invest hours and hours into every turn-based RPG from Japan. I find myself gravitating toward games where you can jump from great heights."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1356576/the-best-games-for-realizing-your-free-falling-fantasies

News::Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies hits the eShop in October

I now think of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies as the game where Phoenix Wright defends an orca charged with murder which is, to be fair, at least a funny thing to be remembered for. (Shame that case is DLC.) Capcom has dated the 3DS title for North America and Europe -- it's coming to the eShop on October 24, 2013 for $29.99 / €24.99.


Some of you are surely still bummed about the lack of a retail release here in the West. Yep. More than anything, I'm just glad Dual Destinies is even getting released over here at all.


Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies hits the eShop in October screenshot






via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/ace-attorney-dual-destinies-hits-the-eshop-in-october-261996.phtml

News::Indie Game Insider | Electronic Super Joy Review

Electronic Super Joy borrows a lot from Super Meat Boy and Super Hexagon, but is it as good as its muses?



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1356567/indie-game-insider-electronic-super-joy-review

News::Dishonored: The Brigmore Witches (DLC) | CheatMasters

avoiderdragon : The DLCs for Dishonored are all about focusing on the side stories that make the setting much richer and the characters more fleshed out. When The Knife of Dunwall DLC came out for Dishonored, players were able to be in the shoes of Daud, who was Corvos nemesis in the game. Now with The Brigmore Witches, you get to play the antagonist in the previous DLC. It would be interesting if the second time is also as good or perhaps even better.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1356592/dishonored-the-brigmore-witches-dlc-cheatmasters

News::Monster Loves You Review Short And Sweet | The Indie Game Magazine

When in need of a good dose of the warm-and-fuzzies (with just a hint of dark humor), look no further than Dejobaan Gamess Monster Loves You. A cute, kid-friendly take on daily life in monster land and the larger question of monster-human relations, this stat-building visual novel for the PC offers players the chance to become the very best of beasts or the most monstrous monster who ever lived.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1356582/monster-loves-you-review-short-and-sweet-the-indie-game-magazine

News::Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs vs. Outlast video Horror showdown

Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs vs. Outlast video Horror showdown



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1356609/amnesia-a-machine-for-pigs-vs-outlast-video-horror-showdown

News::Tom Clancys Splinter Cell: Blacklist | CheatMasters

By avoiderdragon:When the first game came out, it was the best stealth game of its time. However, the subsequent games then harbored the lopsided goal of expanding its audience, and perhaps it was foolhardy at best. But Ubisoft has not relented and put a lot of effort into this new release with the same mindset. With a new developer, Ubisoft Toronto, and a considerable bit of hype behind it, Splinter Cell: Blacklist is set to make it finally work.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1356584/tom-clancys-splinter-cell-blacklist-cheatmasters

News::Lost Marbles Review Inanimate Teamwork | The Indie Game Magazine

In Binary Takeover's Lost Marbles, a self-dubbed PC/Mac mash-up of Marble Madness and the classic platformer The Lost Vikings, players steer up to three marbles at a time through a 3D world of increasingly perilous puzzles.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1356586/lost-marbles-review-inanimate-teamwork-the-indie-game-magazine

News::Future Cop Loses Skittles, Faces Certain Death

News::What Happens if Master Chief had to save Mushroom Kingdom? GameStar looks to tell the story.

A new project has appeared on that other crowd surfing site, IndieGoGo, called GameStar, and it looks to be something we have never seen before. GameStar follows a space pilot who lands on the planet where videogames are born and finds himself, and his ship, going through a transformation, it becomes pixelated, as he approaches the planet. On this planet the protagonist will go through several transformations, essentially causing the game to become several different games, each from a different time period in gaming history.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1355513/what-happens-if-master-chief-had-to-save-mushroom-kingdom-gamestar-looks-to-tell-the-story

News::Mighty No. 9 now OFFICIALLY coming to PS3, 360, and Wii U

You better believe I've had my eyeballs on the Mighty No. 9 Kickstarter like a vulture. I wanted to spread the news as soon as the console port goal was finally cleared.


That's right! Mere minutes ago, the donation amount crossed the $2,200,000 threshold, ensuring that comcept and Inti Creates will put Mighty No. 9 on PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii U. I always knew this stretch goal would be met, but I didn't think it would happen with a full two weeks left to go before the Kickstarter closes. I don't know if it'll be able to hit the $3,300,000 mark required for the PS4 and Xbox One ports, but never count out the massive influx of funds that typically pour in the last couple of days of a crowdfunding campaign.


By the way, have you guys seen Mighty No. 3's design yet? Isn't she just the most adorable Japanese thunder god?


Mighty No. 9 now OFFICIALLY coming to PS3, 360, and Wii U screenshot






via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/mighty-no-9-now-officially-coming-to-ps3-360-and-wii-u-261966.phtml